Food & Dairy Product Information

FILMTEC Membranes
Cleaning Guide for FILMTEC Full-Fit Spiral Elements
The following are general
recommendations for cleaning
FILMTECTM full-fit spiral elements
used in food and dairy process
streams. More detailed procedures for
cleaning a membrane system are
typically included in the operating
manual provided by the system
supplier or from a contracted cleaning
chemical supplier.

Introduction
The surface of a membrane is subject
to fouling by foreign materials which
may be present in the feed stream
such as hydrates of metal oxides,
calcium precipitates, organics and
biological matter. The term fouling
includes the build-up of any type of
material on the membrane surface,
including mineral scaling.
Membrane surface fouling
manifests itself in a performance
decline, lower permeate flow rate
and/or higher solute passage.
Increased pressure drop between the
feed and concentrate may be a side
effect of fouling.
Cleaning can be accomplished
very effectively because of the
combination of pH stability and
temperature resistance of FILMTEC
membranes.

Safety Precautions
1. When using any chemicals
indicated in subsequent sections,
follow accepted safety practices.
Always wear eye protection as a
minimum. In the case of handling
corrosive chemicals (e.g., sulfuric
acid), wear full face cover and
protective clothing. Consult the
chemical manufacturer for detailed
information about safety, handling
and disposal.
2. When preparing cleaning solutions,
ensure that all chemicals are
dissolved and well mixed before
circulating the solutions to the
elements.
3. High-quality water must be used
for flushing, cleaning and
disinfecting FILMTEC membranes.
This water must be chlorine-free
for reverse osmosis (RO) and

nanofiltration (NF) systems. See

Water Quality section in this
Product Information bulletin for
specific requirements.
4. Cleaning chemicals will be present
on both the permeate and
retentate sides of the membrane
immediately after cleaning. Care
should be taken to properly flush
residuals from the system prior to
operation with the feed stream.
5. During recirculation of cleaning,
disinfecting and flushing solutions,
the temperature and pH must not
exceed the guidelines for the
specific membrane type. See
guidelines in this Product
Information bulletin.

Cleaning Method
The cleaning method described below
is known as cleaning in place (CIP).
This means the cleaning is performed
in very much the same way as
ordinary production; however, it is
done with proper adjustment of the
operating parameters, temperature
and pressure. The cleaning
procedure is more effective when
performed at an elevated
temperature. It is not recommended
to use a cleaning temperature below
15C because of the very slow
cleaning rate at low temperatures.
Dosing of the cleaning chemicals and
operation of the cleaning procedure
can be performed manually or
automatically, depending on the
specific design requirements.
In general, the cleaning regimen
will include the following steps. Note
that between each step in the
cleaning procedure, the system must
be flushed with high-quality water.
Purge feed stream from the
system.
Flush with water.
Clean in one or more steps,
according to the selected
procedure.
Flush with water.
Disinfection when required.
Flush with water after disinfection.
Please refer to Table 1 for cleaning
guidelines for FILMTEC RO and NF
elements.

Water Quality
Water is the most important cleaning
agent and the one used in the largest
quantities. Consequently, the quality
of the water used for CIP is of the
utmost importance in order to avoid
unwanted deposits on the
membranes originating from the
water.
RO quality water is recommended
for flushing, cleaning and disinfecting
of FILMTEC membranes, but
prefiltered water may be used.
Especially important in the CIP water
is the content of sparingly soluble
components such as iron,
manganese and silicates. It is also
important that CIP water meets a
good bacteriological standard.
To ensure that water quality meets
the recommendations in Table 2, CIP
water quality should be monitored
regularly and a complete water
analysis should be made every three
to six months.

Multi-step Cleaning
Most applications require several
independent cleaning steps for
example, an acid cleaning succeeded
by an alkaline cleaning containing
detergents (or vice versa). In such
cases it is recommended NOT to mix
chemicals from one step with residual
chemicals in the system from the
preceding step. Each cleaning step
has to be followed by water flushing
to remove impurities and used
chemicals before new chemicals are
put into the system.

Checking Cleaning Effectiveness

One common means of checking the
effectiveness of the cleaning
procedure is to measure the water
permeate flow after cleaning. The
water flux results may be an
indication of whether surface foulants
have been adequately removed or if
an additional cleaning step should be
considered.
When the cleaning procedure has
been completed and before operation
with product is resumed, the water
permeate flow should be measured at
standard operating parameters. The

*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

FILMTEC Membranes

Form No. 609-00077-502XQRP

CH 172-131-E-502R

FILMTEC Membranes
For more information about FILMTEC membranes,
call the Dow Liquid Separations business:

North America . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-447-4369

Latin America . . . . . . . . . . .(+55) 11-5188-9277
Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(+32) 3-450-2240
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(+81) 3-5460-2100
Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(+61) 2-9776-3226
http://www.filmtec.com

Table 1. Cleaning and Disinfection Guidelines for

FILMTEC RO and NF Full-Fit Elements
Cleaning, maximum 2 hours/day:
Pressure Range
Maximum Temperature
pH Range
NaOH %, typical
Na-EDTA %, typical
Strong Acid (e.g., HNO3, H3PO4, H2SO4) %, typical**
Citric Acid %, typical
Disinfection, Short-term, when required:
Pressure Range
Maximum Temperature
Free Chlorine, ppm
Hydrogen Peroxide/Peroxyacetic Acid Blends @ 25C

1-5 bar (15-75 psi)

50C (122F)
1 - 11.5
0.05 - 0.1%
0.2 - 0.3%
0.1 - 0.2%
0.5 - 1.0%
1-5 bar (15-75 psi)
25C (77F)
Below Detectable Limits
1000 ppm

Note: Please check with chemical supplier for concentrations of formulated cleaning agents.
**Straight nitric acid is not recommended with NF membranes.

temperature of the water and feed

pressure should be noted. By tracking
and generating a history of the water
permeate flux, a system operator may
be alerted to a cleaning or operating
upset.

Disinfection
Where high-grade bacteriological
conditions are required (as in many
food and dairy plants), cleaning is
followed by disinfection. Frequency of
disinfection will be based on plant
need, feed quality and membrane type.
When performing a chemical
disinfection, the procedure is similar
to the cleaning procedure (i.e., dosing
and circulation of the solution followed
by a water flush).

Cleaning Precautions
Field experience has demonstrated
that certain chemicals and cleaning
conditions may have an adverse
effect on membrane performance. We
recommend caution with the following:
Frequent disinfection with an
oxidizing solution (such as a
hydrogen peroxide blend) more
than 1-2 times per week may

cause premature membrane

oxidation.
Straight nitric acid solutions may
have an oxidizing effect on
polypiperazine membranes (such
as NF). Phosphoric acid - nitric
acid blends are recommended
over straight nitric acid.
Aggressive alkaline cleanings at
high temperature and pH may
cause membrane degradation and
lead to premature failure. We
recommend cleaning within the
conditions specified in this bulletin.
Please consult with your
membrane or chemical supplier for
specific recommendations.

Preservative / Storage
If the system, after cleaning, will
remain shut down for more than 24
hours, the membranes should be
stored in a preservative solution. This
is also true if membrane elements are
removed from the system for storage
or shipment.
When storing elements, a 1.0
weight percent sodium metabisulfite
(food grade) solution is adequate for
the inhibition of biological growth.

Ensure that the system is air tight and

that all piping is closed so the system
remains full.
The system should be checked on
a regular basis to ensure that the
system is full of the storage solution
and samples taken and analyzed for
bisulfite concentration. If the solution
becomes discolored or if the bisulfite
concentration drops, the storage
solution should be replaced.
Before operating the system after
storage, the storage solution should be
flushed from the membranes, and a full
cleaning cycle should be run. Many
operators also sanitize prior to operation.
While this solution is known to not
adversely affect the performance of
FILMTEC membranes, other storage
solutions may also be used. Please
consult your chemical supplier for
recommendations.

Table 2. CIP Water Recommendations

Iron Content (Fe)

< 0.05 ppm

Manganese Content (Mn) < 0.02 ppm

Aluminum Content (Al)

< 0.05 ppm

Silicate Content (SiO2)

< 5 ppm

Hardness

< 85 ppm as
CaCO3

Chlorine

0 ppm

Particle Size

< 10 microns

Turbidity

< 0.5 NTU

Silt Density

< 1 SDI

Total Plate Count

< 1000 per ml

Coliform Bacteria

< 1 per 100 ml

Though

soft water is recommended, in some

areas cleaning chemicals are specially
formulated for hard CIP water. Please check
with your chemical supplier if using hard water
for cleaning.

Notice: The use of this product in and of itself does not necessarily guarantee the removal of cysts and pathogens from water.
Effective cyst and pathogen reduction is dependent on the complete system design and on the operation and maintenance of the system.
Notice: No freedom from any patent owned by Seller or others is to be inferred. Because use conditions and applicable laws may differ from one
location to another and may change with time, Customer is responsible for determining whether products and the information in this document are
appropriate for Customers use and for ensuring that Customers workplace and disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and
other governmental enactments. Seller assumes no obligation or liability for the information in this document. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN;
ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.
Published May 2002.

*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

Form No. 609-00077-502XQRP

CH 172-131-E-502R